Philips First Transistor Radio L3X73T-03 Refurbished - RetrObright 

Hi Sander Live, so many have said how seeing these old radios bring back memories, I'll add you to the list, thanks 😃

Hi Charlie, thank you 🙂

Hi Wayne, I agree, looking at the before and after video it is brighter 👍🙂

Hi Steven, yes it was expensive back in the day. Thanks 🙂

Hi Ken, thank you. It looks and works well, cheers 🙂

Thank you very much Haunter 👍😃

Hi Jim, thank you. I'm always willing to have a go but it gets me in trouble sometimes 🤦‍♂️ My collection is growing but not many outstanding radios so far 🤔🙂

Hi Pete, The front looks pretty good and was apparently a cream colour originally anyway, The retrObright works on ABS plastic which I doubt this is but it is definitely brighter. You must enjoy living on the edge with that comment to your 'better half' 😄 Cheers

Hi mustafa, this isn't my profession it just a hobby. Thank you for your lovely comment 😃

Hi David, my wife says I put her to sleep too, cheers and thanks 😄

I can see it now Pauline, Dad smoking a pipe on the picnic blanket on the ground and Mum sitting on the tailgate with a sandwich listening to her Philips radio 🙂

Fun times 🙂

Hi Jeff, thank you. This radio works very well and the front panel is still bright since I treated it 👍🙂

Hi Joe, thank you 😃

Thanks again Stephen 😀

Hi robbyxp1, thank you, you are very kind 😃

Thanks SoRTs6233 👍🙂

Thanks Jerry 😀

Hi Doc, you must get yours out and see if it works. Someone else said some were assembled in New Zealand, it would be interesting to see if yours was 🙂

Hi Eric, thank you and it is my pleasure 🙂

Thank you Bruce 😃

Sir,you are so lucky man.I am 72 years and spent my life with radio servicing.Though I never seen this particular Philips radio model,many other next gen. Philips radios made in holland are serviced by my shop. Philips is my fevrit brand.

Hi Crippleman, I have had a number of comments from folks living in or used to live near Eindhoven. Thank you for your comment and it is my pleasure 😃

Thank you Quantum Leap. I believe Norelco were rebranded Philips equipment made in Holland and sold in the US. I have seen this same radio with the Norelco name on it 🤔 www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/norelco-all-transistor-radio-293694213

Ha-ha... it's probably my tendency to understate calamity. Thanks pacmania1982, now I have a smile too 😄

Hi Gregg's Vintage Workshop, yes, nice little set, it came up a treat. Thanks 😃

Hi Shandy Brandy, that's nice that it reminded you of your Grandpa. His sounds like it was quite a radio and with the powered antenna it would pick up distant stations, maybe even Australia. thanks for your comment 👍🙂

@@DavidTipton101 Hi David, this Philips Holland transistor radio brings loads of memories. During my school's 3-month-long winter vacation I used to always go to my grandpa's place who was a physician. Often after lunch he would take a short siesta and tune on to the news broadcast before going back to his clinic again. I would lie down close to grandpa and watch him with exitement tune on to numerous radio stations around the world. Following my grandpa's demise, my granny gave us the radio. And believe me, inspite of having a furniture radiogram, there was somewhat a tug of war for this radio since my mother wanted to listen her choice of programmes belting out from All India Radio, Calcutta, my dad loved the radio for its portability, sensitivity and great sound while my siblings including me always tuned on to radio stations broadcasting music programmes... I was a fan of Radio Australia and I remember after my school used to be over for the day, I used to come home around 03:00P.M. (IST) and tune in to the 13-metres shortwave band. This radio station used to belt out latest beautiful music and the RJs too had a unique style that only caused listeners like me to get hooked to this awesome station. This Philips Holland radio could often catch this station amazingly clear and sounded too good. Must even say the broadcast quality of Radio Australia was also very good. I still love radios as there is a different charm listening to distant or the weakest radio stations. However, sadly, the fun is over since too much of RFI (radio frequency interference) from numerous modern electronic devices has become troublesome in tuning to AM/MW and shortwave bands radio stations. By the way, this Philips Holland radio also had a tan colour leather case. Had watched your video again and felt that what a splendid restoration work you have done. Thank you!

Thank you Shandy Brandy for sharing your story. I do like to hear how people lived in the old days, it seemed a lot simpler then. A very enjoyable read, thank you.

Hi Lynton, pretty simple job on this string but it didn't end up the same as the drawing, still it works fine. I have a number of European radios with the complex multi-string arrangement so far I haven't had to fiddle with the strings but that day will come. Thanks Lynton 😃

Thanks Noriri 😀

Hi Wayne in Canada. Thank you. I hope it's starting warm up over there, too cold for me 🥶😄

@@DavidTipton101 LOL Its not too bad here. I am in Toronto which is not quite s bad as you may think.

@@waynekozak1462 I just checked Toronto weather and it says a top of -3C 😏 I wouldn't like to be there if it gets a bit chilly 😁 stay warm Wayne 😉

Hi Dennis, thank you. The lathe has been a real asset, probably could have used a nut and bolt if there was enough room but the lathe is way more fun. There is plenty of sun now 🤦‍♂️😄

Hi Robert, I wonder why in New Zealand. This one appears to be from Holland judging from the stickers and writing on the cabinet but I could be wrong. Interesting, thanks Robert 🙂

@@DavidTipton101 Not sure when production started or finished here in New Zealand but the majority of them are date stamped 1961 and 62. The date stamp disappeared and the handle attached to the end panels and ran right across the top on late production. The identification plate looks very similar to yours but says Made in New Zealand in very small letters along the bottom edge.

I wonder where else they built these radios Fernando, I've heard, Holland, New Zealand and now Brazil. Thank you 😃

Hello and greetings Juhani from Finland, thank you. You must have some interesting radios in your collection 🙂

@@DavidTipton101 Hello I have bought several radios from on-line auctions and flea markets. My idea in this beloved hobby is to restore the radio to its original condition, and I don't think about the value or rarity of the radios, each radio is its own beautiful individual. I also collect radio tape recorders 😊. I don't want to be a hoarder, but I can't bear to part with the equipment I buy, So, I never sell, I just buy. . Thank you so much for replying to my comment! Autumn greetings, from Finland! -Juhani

Thank you Stephen 😀

Hi Nico, thanks. I just Googled "philips sharpie" and up it came. the colour of the grill looks correct now, it had a brown look about it originally. I hadn't thought of the glue bleeding through but you are spot on, that's exactly what it is. Thank you and Hi to the Netherlands 👋😃

Hi Dave, thank you. It's the first time I've tried it 🙂

Thanks Nifty Fifty Camping adventures, I can imagine what a painters radio would look like, good luck 👍🙂

Hi John, thanks. The timber gives it a better sound too I think 😀

@@DavidTipton101 I agree, I would wager the sound resonates differently thru the wood.

Hi Nard, These things bring back memories sometimes. The plastic turned out OK in the end 😀

Thanks David. Sounds like a good tip with oxy activator, I'll try it next time 🙂

Hi Almir for Bosnia. Good luck with your project, these Philips radios work and sound great 😀

Hi Robert, thank you. Hi to all the good people in Michigan 😃

Hi Chris, thanks. There aren’t many Aussie repairers on RU-vid so I thought it would be a nice change, thanks 🙂

Hi Bob, I'm surprised your piper has a Philips radio fitted, do you use it for ADF 😉 I was an aircraft engineer but on heavy RPT. I have some gold pinstriping left if you want to make the Piper go faster 😄

David Tipton , it already has the orange and brown go faster paint job. The only problem being that I need to wear flares when I fly it. 😎

@@roberto9666 Oh yeah, those are hard to get 😄

Hi Phillip, thanks. Very happy it worked, I struggle with transistor sets even more that valve sets 😄

Hi Bradley, yep, pretty easy restring. thanks for the sub 😃

I wish they were all that straightforward

That one wasn't bad markpirateuk , it was disconcerting it didn't work the way the string guide said, it seems to work OK though 🙂

There are still a few of us hanging on Simon 😄

Ha-ha... I haven't been compared to Benny Hill before, next time I do a restring I'll play Yakety Sax in the background 😄

Hi he's the master, thank you once again. I am pretty happy with how it came out and it didn't really need much to get it looking presentable. We had it going while we had dinner alfresco (at home) last night, it sounds pretty decent 🙂

Hi Peter, thank you very much. Hi to the good folk in Cape Town 😃

Hi RODALCO2007 in NZ 😃 thank you and thank you for the sub 🙂

Hi lo, thanks, I haven't tried it before 🙂

Thank you Steven 😃

It's a nice radio and works very well hadi reg, thanks 🙂

Hi Joe, thank you. Sounds like you are enjoying your Philips sound machine, well done 😃

Hi Peter in the Netherlands 👋 Thank you 🙂

Thanks Julian, I'll try 😃

Hi tarstarkusz, thank you 😃

Hi Rene, I guess it would be repairs on Philips equipment under warranty, all nice and new. Thank you for watching 😃

Hi Steve, thanks. The dial string was relatively easy once I worked out how to do it. I use all the products you mentioned although didn't use any of those on the letherette. I now think the stains on it was from the adhesive bleeding through after a suggestion from another comment. The components used clearly show a transition from valves to transistors, the dropping resistor was also huge 😄

Hi Eemil from Finland, thank you 👋😃

Thank you Alexander. 60 pounds was a lot for a small radio, a lot of work to make them I guess 🙂

Thank you T Schell 🙂

That's cool, thanks Stephen 😃

This one is a beauty cogidubnus1953. It was an interesting system in the UK with the government controlling the airwaves. We heard about it over here but I couldn't understand why there was a need for pirate stations as we had complete radio freedom here. The cost of batteries was always a problem for youngsters 😀

Hi Neil, thank you 🙂

Is that right scofab, I'll get some and and check it out, thanks 👍😃

Thanks Stephen. Ideal of doing just that 🏏🙂

Hi John, thank you. I found the little cutter, that would have done the job, thanks for the tip 👍🙂 www.hobbytools.com.au/balsa-wood-stripper-and-cutter/

Hi Kenneth, The lathe has paid for itself in handyness. I forgot to put the bag sealer back until the wife went to seal something that night... 'not happy Jan' . I remember the System 80, a clone of the Tandy TRS 80 or very similar. The first computer I could afford was a Commodore 64 that Kmart were selling off cheap because the Amiga had been released 😃

HI Pufango, thank you. I don't do a lot of transistor stuff because I don't have much experience, radio control Txing sounds fun 🙂

Hi Alan, thank you. It's sitting with the rest of my transistor collection and looks quite nice 🙂

This model was my fevrit and I had it in earley 70's.

Hi NewBookz, I have seen photos of this model with the four D batteries online. Even in our poor reception area this one picks up local stations very well with it's large loopstick antenna

Hi M C, thank you 😃

Hello David, thank you. I have seen the idea of adding laundry booster, I will try it next time. Thanks 👍😀

Thanks Michael, you would hope so. It's good I can still get the batteries and they are cheap 😃

It certainly seemed to Robert. It might be wishful thinking but it looks about right now 🙂

Hi Jason, It may just look cleaner, I should have done a before and after under the same exact conditions, next time 🙂

Thank you Derrick 👍🙂

Hi Cosimo, that seems to be the thinking on the internet also, I wish I knew more about transistors to be more subjective 🤔🤦‍♂️🙂

Don't forget the large HF transformers and antenna coil that disappeared for the sake of smaller devices. These large ones came over from tube technique.

Hi OlegKostoglatov, Philips had a presence in most countries I guess so they would be pretty widespread. Someone else mentioned a shortwave version 🙂

Hi Narendra, thank you 😃

Haha... thank you Richard 👍😀

Thank you Dave 🙂

Hi kenny9648, thanks mate 😃

Hi Tom thank you and you and my pleasure 🙂

Hi Mary, I avoid looking back at my previous videos, too embarrassing 🙂 I think I read they were sold in Canada under the Rogers-Majestic name. Nice to hear you managed to clean up and save your radio. Here is a excerpt from Radio museum about Rogers-Majestic. "In 1941, all the assets of Rogers-Majestic Corp. Ltd., except shares and bonds of Rogers Radio Broadcasting Company and shares of Canadian Radio Artists Bureau Ltd., were sold to Small Electric Motors (Canada) Ltd. for $645,000 net [DR; Ottawa Citizen, 5. Feb. 1941, p.21]. Small Electric Motors Ltd. later became the Canadian division of Royal Philips Electronics (~1946). Philips kept the Rogers-Majestic label. [Source?] Philips and Rogers-Majestic radios and TVs were made side-by-side in the Toronto factory from the late 40s until the 1970s. [Information courtesy C.Walter]" 👍🙂

Hi Paul, yes it worked alright, I was happy not to mess with the alignment though 😃

I might just do that recycler, we went up to the Holden Motor Museum in Echuca from Melbourne so could have dropped in, next time 👍🙂

Thanks Ian, my pleasure 👍

Hi Paul, thank you 🙂

Thank you Malcolm 🙂

Hi Allen, haven't done a tape recorder yet but they sound like a bit of fun. Thanks 👍😃

Hi Radio Retired, thank you 🙂

Thank you videolabguy 😃

Thank you William. The Aussie tube radio I'm working on now has a 15 ohm speaker for some reason, it's not a Philips though 🤔

Hi Claude, thank you 👍🙂

Thanks Jess 😀

Hi Jac, thanks for your comment. That's interesting, is Philips still in Eindhoven? This case didn't have any smell, it must have worn off 🙂 I put the clamps back in about the same as they came off I think. I could move them out a little bit more but they will never go flat. Thanks Jac 😃

@@DavidTipton101 They moved their head office to Amsterdam in the 1990s and that was the beginning of the end. Eindhoven was once dominated by Philips but now they're no more than a shadow of their former selves. Many of their buildings have been repurposed as apartments, offices for small companies, the public library etc. The biggest employer in the area now (at least in the tech sector) is ASML which is a spinoff from Philips that makes machines for chip production. I don't live there anymore (emigrated to the USA 20 years ago). In my opinion, Philips made great stuff until the 1980s when they got competition from Japan and couldn't keep up and started dropping the ball on everything. Quality went down, their electronics got a reputation for being difficult to service and not having the features people wanted, and basically customers walked away. They had great success with the CD but they couldn't market themselves out of a paper bag anymore so many other great products failed, such as Video 2000 and the Digital Compact Cassette.

Phillips took over Magnavox in the 1960s, and by the 1970s they were having Magnavox TVs made in Japan, or at least the chassis were. I have one from 1978 and the chassis was made by the NIppon Electric Company, NEC, it worked pretty decently for it's age. I would imagine that the actual Phillips branded TVs from the same era were the same as the Magnavox, NEC TVs in different cabinets. That may have been where Phillips went wrong, they went on a buying spree after the war, and just had too many branch companies to manage.

@@OlegKostoglatov Competition from Japan with better quality and cheaper prices was the beginning of the end for many companies, it wiped out the Australian electronics industry.

@@OlegKostoglatov No way! Philips TVs made for the European market were designed and made by Philips at least to the very end of the CRT era. Not necessarily made in Holland, they had plants for example in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and of course in China. But all sets were Philips designed, and made mostly from Philips components. In the mid '00s, their CRT division was 'married' with LG, and made CR tubes under the 'LG-Philips Displays' brand, which they put into the very last CRT sets, both LG and Philips, and many other brands used their tubes. They made their last CRT in 2009, IIRC. There's a RU-vid video about it, it it's still around.

Hi Mike, thank you. Seems like everybody lived in or near Eindhoven judging from the comments. I can fully understand people buying the local product and Philips is a huge company even down here, we have owned a number of Philips products over the years. So far I have kept all the radios 😃